BOSCO JOHN: (1815-1888) Don Bosco. Italian Roman Catholic Priest, Educator and Writer. He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, a method known as the Salesian Preventive System. Founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Canonized as a saint in 1934. Rare A.L.S., `Obbl.[igatissi]mo Figlio, Sac.[erdote] Gio. Bosco´, one page, blue paper, 8vo, Rome, 21<sup>st</sup> [January 1874], to Countess Callori, in Italian. Bosco writes to his correspondent, calling her `Mia Buona Mamma´, and reports on his recent audience with the Pope, stating `Ho la consolazione di parteciparle, che, quando avuto una udienza dal S.[anto] Padre, ho potuto con tranquillita discorrere di Lei e della sua famiglia, ed… onorati a piacimento. In fine ho dimandato due speciali benedizioni: una per la Contessa Medolago affinche Dio la conservi in buona sanita e l´assista. L´altra benedizione pel Sig. Cont[essi]no Emanuele. Qui il S. Padre mi interruppe e disse: io lo secondero. Assai di cuore affinche sia sempre un nobile cristiano. In fine aggiunse: Vi do carico di comunicare alle famiglie annoverate l´apostolica mia benedizione colla indulgenza plenaria in quel giorno che piu lore piacera di acquistarla´ (“I have the consolation of letting you know, that when I had the audience with the Holy Father, I was able to talk about you and your family with calm, … Finally I asked for two special blessings: one for Countess Medolago so that God will keep her in good health and assist her. The other blessing was for Count Emanuele. Here the Holy Father interrupted me and said: I will follow him very heartily so that he will always be a noble Christian. Finally he added: I take the charge of communicating my apostolic blessing to the families with full indulgence on the day that they will most like to acquire it”) With blank integral leaf. Overall age wear and creasing, and some age toning to the left border, otherwise G

 

Countess Carlota Calori di Vignale (1827-1911) one of the most important financial benefactors of Bosco´s projects.

 

Bosco refers to his audience with Pope Pius IX (1792-1878). He was the longest-reigning elected pope in the history of the Catholic Church 1846-78. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council which decreed papal infallibility.